Hawaii is the latest state to overturn gun restrictions on legal immigrants

Hawaii has overturned its law barring legal immigrants from applying for firearms permits.

The move came after Steve Fotoudis, an Australian citizen and permanent resident of Honolulu, filed suit against the state for denying his request for a gun permit application. Court documents showed that Fotoudis has been a competitive shooter in Australia and "had extensive training in firearms use and safety." Judge J. Michael Seabright overturned the state law and ruled it unconstitutional.

"The undisputed facts establish that Fotoudis, as a lawful permanent resident alien of the United States (and resident of Hawaii), was denied the opportunity to apply for a permit to acquire firearms solely because of his alienage," Seabright wrote. "This classification violates the equal protection clause of the U.S."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

According to the Washington Times, The Second Amendment Foundation has been successful so far in filing such suits in Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Washington. SAF founder Alan Gottlieb told Fox News that if legal immigrants benefit from other constitutional rights while living in America, they also deserve to benefit from the Second Amendment.